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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent tumours and one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Its incidence has increased in recent years and could be linked to unhealthy dietary habits combined with environmental and hereditary factors, which can lead to genetic and epigenetic changes and induce tumour development. The model of CRC progression has always been based on a genomic, parametric, static and complex approach involving oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Recent advances in omics sciences have sought a paradigm shift to a multiparametric, immunological-stromal, and dynamic approach for a better understanding of carcinogenesis and tumour heterogeneity. In the present paper, we review the most important preclinical and clinical data and present recent discoveries in the field of transcriptomics, proteomics, metagenomics and radiomics in CRC disease.

Introduction: BRAF driver mutations are found in up to 15% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and lead to constitutive activation of BRAF kinase and sustained RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway signaling. BRAF mutations define a sub-population characterized by a poor prognosis and dismal median survival. Following successful outcomes with BRAF inhibition in BRAF mutant metastatic melanoma, this approach was evaluated in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The development and combination of targeted therapies against multiple signaling pathways has proved particularly successful, with improved survival and response rates. Areas covered: This review addresses the development of therapeutic strategies with inhibitors targeting MAPK/ERK and EGFR signaling in BRAF V600E mutated mCRC, focusing on encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab. A pharmacological and clinical review of these drugs and the therapeutic approaches behind their optimization are presented. Expert opinion: Exploiting knowledge of the mechanisms of resistance to BRAF inhibitors has been crucial to developing effective therapeutic strategies in BRAF-V600E mutant mCRC. The BEACON trial is a successful example of this approach, using encorafenib and cetuximab with or without binimetinib in patients with previously treated BRAF V600E mutant mCRC, showing an impressive improvement in clinical outcomes and tolerable toxicity compared with chemotherapy, establishing a new standard of care in this setting.

Inhibidor de BRAF; Binimetinib; Cáncer de colon BRAF inhibitor; Binimetinib; Colon cancer Inhibidor de BRAF; Binimetinib; Càncer de còlon Introduction: BRAF driver mutations are found in up to 15% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and lead to constitutive activation of BRAF kinase and sustained RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway signaling. BRAF mutations define a sub-population characterized by a poor prognosis and dismal median survival. Following successful outcomes with BRAF inhibition in BRAF mutant metastatic melanoma, this approach was evaluated in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The development and combination of targeted therapies against multiple signaling pathways has proved particularly successful, with improved survival and response rates. Areas covered: This review addresses the development of therapeutic strategies with inhibitors targeting MAPK/ERK and EGFR signaling in BRAF V600E mutated mCRC, focusing on encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab. A pharmacological and clinical review of these drugs and the therapeutic approaches behind their optimization are presented. Expert opinion: Exploiting knowledge of the mechanisms of resistance to BRAF inhibitors has been crucial to developing effective therapeutic strategies in BRAF-V600E mutant mCRC. The BEACON trial is a successful example of this approach, using encorafenib and cetuximab with or without binimetinib in patients with previously treated BRAF V600E mutant mCRC, showing an impressive improvement in clinical outcomes and tolerable toxicity compared with chemotherapy, establishing a new standard of care in this setting. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) FIS/FEDER (PI17/00947, PI20/00968) and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 635342.

Introduction: Molecular profiling has led to significantly longer survival in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. Clinical guidelines recommend testing for KRAS/NRAS, BRAF and MSI status, and new biomarkers such as HER2 amplification and NTRK fusions have emerged more recently in refractory CRC, supported by overwhelming clinical relevance. These biomarkers can guide treatment management to improve clinical outcomes in these patients. Areas covered: Preclinical and clinical data over the last decade were reviewed for known and novel biomarkers with clinical implications in refractory CRC. Molecular alterations are described for classic and novel biomarkers, and data for completed and ongoing studies with targeted and immunotherapies are presented. Expert opinion: Use of targeted therapies based on biomarker testing in CRC has enabled impressive improvements in clinical outcomes in refractory patients. BRAF, MSI, NRAS and KRAS should be tested upfront in all patients given their indisputable therapeutic implications. Other molecular alterations such as HER2 and NTRK are emerging. Testing for these alterations may further improve outcomes for refractory CRC patients. Nonetheless, many key aspects remain to be defined including the optimal timing and technique for testing, the most adequate panel, and whether all patients should be tested for all alterations.